Movie Gadget Friday: The Road Warrior

Ariel Waldman contributes Movie Gadget Friday, where she highlights the lovable and lame gadgets from the world of cinema.

Previously on Movie Gadget Friday, we went thirteen years into the future of failed technology with Johnny Mnemonic. Gearing down from cyberpunk grunge to the post-apocalyptic Australian outback, this week we dust off the many dune gadgets and gas-guzzlers in The Road Warrior to take a closer look at the details. Known as the sequel to Mad Max, this leather-lust film takes the fight for survival by way of modded-out motors seriously (down to the skull hood ornaments). While electronics are scarce in this 1981 film, the ever-present tinkering and modification of hardware throughout more than keeps our attention.

The Interceptor From dune buggies to Desotos, custom-built cars are scrapped together from scavenged materials and outfitted with nitrous oxide tanks and whatever weapons and are within reach. The Interceptor features two large tanks strapped to the trunk and an impressive roll cage built for brutal road battles. Modded from an original 1973 XB GT Ford Falcon Coupe and fitted with an impressive supercharger, Max's machine is capable of extreme speeds at the flip of a switch. Known as the last of the V8s, the vehicle contains a booby-trapped destruction device under the trunk in case of emergency. Other vehicles worth honorable hardware mentions are Pappagallo's custom-built scrap car with two Ford 351 engines, and the red Ford F100 featuring a boat windshield and some serious cobra door decals. More after the break.

Gyrocopter Stripped down to a bare skeleton of a flying system, the Gyrocopter is capable of both land and air maneuvering. The machine is built to hold both a pilot and passenger but would surely buckle under any additional weight. With two blades and three wheels, the Gyrocopter has the basic helicopter feature list: vertical take off and landing, and the ability to save the day (as choppers often do). Though tempting to get excited about the prospect of being personally portable, be sure to stay seated during any flights -- there's simply not much room between the blades and your brain.

Crossbow Armband Fitted tightly to your forearm, the crossbow armband is a crafty device for leaving enemies in the dust. The armband is made of quality leather, strong enough to withstand the force feedback of the miniature crossbow fastened to it. While it may not be the most comfortable to carry around, it features fingerless gloves for easy gripping of various other devices during road raids for effective multitasking. Ergonomically, the weapon is sound, allowing for one-handed firing so as to be able to keep your other hand on the wheel.

Ariel Waldman is a social media insights consultant based in San Francisco. Her blog can be found at http://arielwaldman.com.